Anders Lustgarten’s “Three Burials” explodes like a Molotov cocktail of social commentary and thrilling absurdity. We meet Cherry, a head nurse whose seemingly ordinary life shatters when she finds herself on the run with a dead refugee and a corrupt cop in tow. Their pink convertible becomes a chariot hurtling through the underbelly of Britain, exposing festering wounds of prejudice and neglect.
The novel doesn’t shy away from depicting the harsh realities faced by refugees. We see their desperation, their vulnerability, and the systemic failures that leave them exposed. But Lustgarten balances this darkness with sharp wit and moments of laugh-out-loud absurdity. The cop, struggling with his internalized biases, becomes a source of both tension and comic relief. Cherry’s own transformation, from ordinary citizen to reluctant revolutionary, is both believable and inspiring.
“Three Burials” is more than just a thriller, it’s a gut punch that forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about our own society. It challenges our perceptions of right and wrong, leaving us grappling with complex questions about justice, identity, and what it truly means to belong.
I loved this, it was un-put-downable – drama, politics and social justice collided. It took me back to the radical days of my youth and our hopes for a juster society that seem not to have been fulfilled.
This isn’t a comfortable read, but it’s a necessary one. The story lingers long after the final page, a testament to its emotional impact and thought-provoking themes.